Firefighter is honored, remembered by many

Intermountain Catholic

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Firefighters and paramedics salute as the American flag on top of Dylan Dewey Hopkins casket is folded to be presented to his family. The Cathedral of the Madeleine was a sea of blue as firefighters, paramedics, and airmedics from throughout the valley filled the Cathedral for Hopkins funeral. Bryon Meyer and Craig Weaver, who were in the plane accident with Hopkins, attended the funeral in hospital beds. South Temple was closed for the duration of the funeral. IC photo by Christine Young

SALT LAKE CITY — Dylan Dewey Hopkins, 25, was a firefighter and a paramedic from Station No. 5 for Salt Lake City. He was a firefighter/paramedic with the Salt Lake City Fire Department and Tactical Search and Rescue with the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Utah Task Force 1.

Dylan died Nov. 21, three hours after the private plane he, Bryon Meyer, and Craig Weaver were flying in was forced to make an emergency landing, crashed in the Uinta Mountains. Weaver, a flight paramedic for AirMed, called the helicopter rescue’s dispatch for help, and he and Meyer tried to revive Hopkins. Rescue efforts were difficult because the white plane was nearly impossible to see in the snowy mountains. They were on their way to Colorado Springs to see a Denver Bronco game.

Dylan is the son of Marianna Hopkins and the stepson of Gary Topping, archivist for the Diocese of Salt Lake City, and Blake Hopkins and Sue Fisher.

Dylan was born April 25, 1983. Days after he was born, his mind was on the fire service. By age 6 he was writing essays about it, and by 15, he was bribing West Valley Fire Service with ice cream to go on ride-alongs. Natural portents surrounded his birth. Billy’s Mountain slid into Spanish Fork Canyon, flooding the town of Thistle; City Creek flooded and Dylan may have learned river running at age one month when he traversed the flooded State Street on a foot bridge, watching kayakers sail by.

Dylan was an only child, but his family spans hundreds from whom he learned. He became a falconer under the tutelage of Steve Smith. DeAnn Barnson gave him his strong start in emergency medicine. His mentors throughout the fire service in both West Valley and Salt Lake City are too many to name. His beloved Uncle Tom Yeager gave him much he should know and some that he should not. He was especially lucky to have his godmother, Sue Fisher, to nurture his focus on the humanity of difficult mentally ill patients he served. He understood the serenity of throwing a fly line over a quiet stream with his stepfather, Gary Topping.

Everyone loved Dylan. At his young age, he had already served the rescue efforts after Hurricane Katrina, at great risk aided shooting victims at Trolley Square, and fought some of the valley’s biggest fires. He lived for his career and for helping others who weren’t able to help themselves.

Dylan had many hobbies like kayaking, falconry, and rock climbing. His love for life, family, friends, work, and animals was his inspiration.

He is survived by his father, Blake Hopkins (Sue Fisher); his mother Marianna Hopkins (Gary Topping). His extended family includes two "almost sisters" Morgan Yeager Uyetake and Olivia Fletcher; their mothers, Stephanie Yeager and Millie Fletcher; and his special friend, Becky Montgomery; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 29, at The Cathedral of the Madeleine. The funeral Mass was concelebrated by Father John Norman, Vicar General J. Terrence Fitzgerald, and Father Joseph Mayo, Rector of the Cathedral of the Madeleine. Chancellor Deacon Silvio Mayo and Deacon John Keyser assisted at the altar.

In his homily Fr. Norman said, "We also remember today in a special way Bryon Meyer and Craig Weaver, and we remind ourselves of the goodness of a life well lived. A few short days ago, many of you received profoundly sad news that someone you cared for and shared your lives with had been taken from us very tragically and suddenly. This sadness will never go away, it will become softer, different, and be reflected upon over and over again; yet, you will find meaning.

"As his family described him, Dylan loved his work. He would rather be serving others than anything else," said Fr. Norman. "The example of community among these firefighters and paramedics should give strength, hope, a sense of purpose, and set an example."